Latch for box covers



June 29, 1954 J. ASHWORTH 2,682,423

LATCH FOR BOX COVERS Filed March 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z c/o/mn/e Asbworf/r INVENTOR.

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June 29, 1954 J, ASHWQRTH 2,682,423

' LATCH FOR BOX COVERS Filed March 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 do/7/7/7/e Ash Wor'zh INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1954 UNITED STATES .ATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My invention relates to latches of the snap fastener type usable in situations where the inner surface of one door or cover overlies another outer surface, either of a door, cover, wall or door casing, and particularly adapted to be used on boxes where one outer cover overlies an inner cover.

The object of my invention is to provide a latch of snap fastener type in two parts which fit together, one part being attached to the outer surface of the door, cover, wall or door casing, and the other part being attached to the inner surface of the overlying door or cover, one of said parts having a spring clip latch, which firmly locks said parts together, but which may be released by pressure upon a part accessible from outside.

I show herein the particular application of such a latch to overlying box covers, but it is readily apparent that such latch may be used to advantage in the similar situations above mentioned.

To this end my invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like characters indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a side view in section, taken on the line |--l of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a side view in section, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the inner surface of the upper plate of the latch;

Fig. 4 is a plan View showing the outer surface of the lower plate of the latch;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the upper cover I2, showing the holes punched therein;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the under cover l3, showing the T-shaped slot and holes punched therein;

Fig. '7 is a side view, partly in section, showing the latch clip 23 distorted when the tongue and button 3| are in depressed position; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modification in which wide slots are cut on each side of the latch clip 29 and the tongue 30.

The upper cover I2 is of cardboard, integral with the box wall, Ill, and is bent over as if hinged at the top of said box wall; the under cover I3 is likewise bent over as if hinged at the top of box wall Each of these covers, [2 and I3, extends the entire length of the box wall, and each extends for almost the entire 2 Width of the box. In closing the box the upper cover I2 overlies the under cover I3, all of the foregoing being usual in the construction of such boxes.

The upper cover I 2 is punched with small holes i l, for the insertion of rivets Mia, and a large hole H, to give access to the button 3|, but preferably of slightly smaller diameter than the button. The under cover I3 is punched with small holes 5 for the insertion of rivets Hip, and a large T-shaped slot l6, for providing for the seating of spring clip 28, and for the depressing of the button 3| and tongue 30. The punching of these covers is done according to measurement so that when cover l2, with the upper plate of the latch attached to it, is folded over cover l3, with the lower plate of the latch attached to it, the upper and lower plates will then be in alinement with each other.

Each of these plates is of fiat, resilient metal. The upper plate consists of two flat portions, 20 and 2|, joined together by a spring clip portion 24, whose outer side is convex extending the entire width of the plate. The fiat portion 2|, which will overlie the button 3|, is punched with a hole 23, to give access to the button, but preferably of slightly smaller diameter than the button.

The middle portion of the spring clip 24 is cut by transverse slots 35 and 36, extending only part Way across, and between these slots it is severed by a longitudinal slot 31, from the fiat portion 2|, leaving a small tongue which is bent back slightly to form an abutment 25, to be engaged by the latch clip 29.

The flat portions 20 and 2| are punched with holes 22 and fastened to the upper cover I2 by rivets IBa, passing through these holes 22 and the alining holes M in the upper cover l2. This obviously brings access hole 23, in flat portion 2|, in line with access hole I? in the cover l2, so that access may be had from outside to the button 3|.

The lower plate is of the same dimensions as the upper plate, and consists of two fiat portions 26 and 21, joined together by the spring clip 28, whose outer surface is concave. Flat portion 26 underlies fiat portion 20 of the upper plate, and flat portion 21 underlies flat portion 2| of the upper plate when the latter is superimposed on the lower plate. Each of the flat portions 26 and 21 is punched with holes l9 to aline with holes |5 in the under cover I3, through which are passed rivets |8b, to fasten the plate to the under cover l3. It is obvious that other means of fastening one to the other may be used, but I have chosen this means as providing for holes punched by measurement in each box cover, and therefore for better alignment of the upper plate with the lower plate, and particularly of spring clip 24 with spring clip 28. The T-shaped slot IS in the cover l3, as already noted, provides for the seating of the spring clip 28 and for the depressing of the tongue 39 and the button 3!.

The spring clip 28 extends the full width of the lower plate, and near its middle are out two transverse slots, 38 and 39, part way across to separate the latch clip 29. These transverse slots continue part way across the fiat portion '5, and are joined by a slot 40, cut on the arc of a circle around the button 3|, leaving a tongue 3!] connecting the button 3| to the latch clip 29, so that all may move as one .part. The latch clip 29 is bent in sharply where it joins the tongue 30, so as to provide for engagement with the abutment 25, and for the holding of one by the other.

To reinforce the tongue 30 I use a member of fiat metal, having a flat portion 32, which underlies and is welded to the tongue 30 and button SI, and a portion, 34, bent at an angle so that the end 33 will contact and be welded to the bottom portion of the latch clip 29.

The convex spring clip 24 of the upper plate, and the concave spring clip 28 of the lower plate, are so rounded and shaped that they fit together to form a snap fastener, when pressed together, and may be disengaged by pressure forcing them apart. The latch clip 29 of the lower plate, engages the abutment 25 of the upper plate when the spring clip Ed is in engagement with the spring clip 28, and thereby locks the two spring clips and the upper and lower plates together, holding them securely until the latch clip 29 is distorted and spread by inward pressure upon the button 3i, widening the throat of the latch clip 22 and permitting separation of the spring clips 24 and 23. The abutment 25 is so rounded and shaped that the latch clip 29 will be spread by it, and, when the spring clips 24 and 28 are in engagement, the latch clip 29 will snap back and engage and lock itself to the abutment.

I will thus be observed that the pressing of the upper cover [2 down upon the under cover 1 3 not only brings the spring clips 24 and 28 into engagement as a snap fastener, but also spreads the latch clip 2% so that it will snap back and loci: the two covers l2 and I3 together; but that by pressure of a finger or implement through the access holes I? and 23 upon the button 3|, the

latch clip 29 will be spread so that the spring clips 2& and 28, in engagement as a snap fastener, may be separated by pressure, and the box may be opened. To use my latch for fastening a door to an underlying door casing, or a sheet to a wall, it is necessary only that access holes for the button 3! and play for its movement be provided.

As shown in Fig. 8 it may be found desirable to cut wider slots, 38a and 39a, on each side of the latch clip 29 and tongue 30, instead of the narrow slots, 38 and 39, in order to provide for effective operation of the latch clip 29, when there is a slight diiference in alinement along the axes of the spring clips 24 and 28. As to alinement transverse to these axes pressing the spring clip 24 down into the spring clip 28 will tend to bring the upper plate into alinement with the lower plate.

The application of my latch is not limited to the position shown in the drawings, but it may be turned about to any position found advantageous, and so applied to the box covers or other elements which it is to fasten. One or more latches, as needed, may be applied to a box to assure its secure fastening. Since my latch does not have any element which protrudes, the boxes, when closed and locked by one or more of my latches, may be stacked away in columns. My latch or latches hold the box cover down so securely that the need for sealing the box with tape is eliminated.

For opening the box each latch is released by pressure upon its button 3! to release the latch clip 28 and permit the covers I 2 and I3 to be separated as shown. After inspection, or emptying, the covers may again be latched together.

The elements to which the latch plates are fastened may therefore be unlatched and separated and fastened together again repeatedly. In the case of a box it may be returned, to be refilled with the manufacturers merchandise, or closed and stacked away as an empty until required, or used as a container for other articles. My latch is obviously inexpensive, and will provide for continued use of the boxes, which now are often torn in opening and discarded and destroyed as useless.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ers Patent of the United States, is:

1. Matching latch plates for fastening together overlying fiat members, each plate having two flat end portions attachable to the surface of one of the fiat members with their inner surfaces against said surface so that one plate will overlie the other in fastened position, a spring clip fastened to the fiat end portions of the first plate extending away from the fiat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is convex, a spring clip joining the flat end portions of the second plate extending towards the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is concave, said first spring clip fitting within the second spring clip so that both hold the plates together in fastened position, a, sprin clip latch portion on said second plate having its cylindrical surface concave on the side facing the other plate and attached to its plate at one end only, means on the other plate opposite said spring clip latch portion to fit within and be grasped by same, and a tongue extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said spring clip latch portion for spreading same.

2. Matching latch plates for fastening together overlying fiat members, each plate having two flat end portions attached to the surface of one of the flat members with their inner surfaces against said surface so that one plate will overlie the other in fastened position, a spring clip joining the flat end portions of the first plate extending away from the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is convex, a spring clip joining the fiat end portions of the second plate extending towards the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is concave, said first spring clip fitting within the second spring clip so that both hold the plates together in fastened position, a spring clip latch portion on said second plate having its cylindrical surface concave on the side facing the other plate and attached to its plate at one end only, and a tongue extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said spring clip latch portion for spreading same, the plate having said spring clip latch portion and the flat member to which it is attached be ing provided with cut-outs within which said tongue can be moved to effect such spreading.

3. Matching latch plates for fastening together overlying flat members, each plate having two fiat endportions attached to the surface of one of the said fiat members with their inner surfaces against said surface so that one plate will overlie the other in fastened position, a spring clip fastened to the fiat end portions of the upper plate extending away from the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is convex, a spring clip joining the flat end portions of the lower plate extending towards the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is concave, said first spring clip fitting within the second spring clip so that both hold the plates together in fastened position, a spring clip latch portion on the lower plate having its cylindrical surface concave on the side facing the upper plate and attached to its plate at oneend only, means on the upper plate opposite said spring clip latch portion to fit within and be grasped by same, and a tongue extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said spring clip latch portion for spreading same, said lower plate and the hat member to which it is attached having cut-outs within which said tongue can be moved to effect such spreading, and said upper plate and the fiat member to which it is attached having openings giving access to said tongue for so moving same.

4. Matching latch plates for fastening together overlying fiat members, each plate having two fiat end portions attachable to the surface of one of the said fiat members with their inner surfaces against said surface so that one plate will overlie the other in fastened position, a spring clip joining the flat end portions of the first plate extending away from the fiat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is convex, a spring clip joining the flat end portions of the second plate extending towards the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is concave, a spring clip latch portion formed outof said second spring clip by cutting the cylindrical surface part way transversely and severing one end thereof by a longitudinal cut to free that end from the plate, the portions of the first spring clip opposite the remaining portions of the second spring clip fitting into said remaining portions so that both hold the plates together in fastened position, and the portion of the first spring clip opposite said latch portion arranged to fit within and be grasped by same, and a tongue extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said spring clip latch portion for spreading same, said latch portion having its cylindrical surface bent to grasp and hold the opposite portion of the firstspring clip more tightly than the holding of the remaining portions of said spring clips to each other.

5. Matching latch plates for fastening together overlying fiat members, each plate having two flat end portions attached to the surface of one of the said flat members with their inner surfaces against said surface so that one plate will overlie the other in fastened position, a spring clip joining the fiat end portions of the first plate extending away from the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is convex, a spring clip joining the fiat end portions of the second plate extending towards the fiat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is concave, the fiat member to which said second plate is attached having a recess to receive said spring clip and permit the flat ends of the plate to lie against its surface, a latch clip portion formed out of the second spring clip by cutting the cylindrical surface part way transversely and continuing said cuts around a tongue extending from said latch clip portion to free said latch clip and tongue from the plate, the portions of the first spring clip opposite the remaining portions of the second spring clip fitting into said remaining portions so that both hold the plates together in fastened position, and the portion of the first spring clip opposite said latch portion arranged to fit within and be grasped by same, said tongue out out of said second plate extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said spring clip latch portion for spreading same, the slot from which said tongue is cut and a recess in the flat member thereunder providing space for the depressing of said tongue, said latch portion having its cylindrical surface bent to grasp and hold the opposite portion of the first spring clip more tightly than the holding of the remaining portions of the spring clips to each other.

6. Matching latch plates for fastening together overlying fiat members, each plate having two fiat end portions attached to the surface of one of the said flat members with their inner surfaces against said surface so that one plate will overlie the other in fastened position, a spring clip joining the fiat end portions of the upper plate extending away from the fiat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is convex, a second spring clip joining the fiat end portions of the lower plate extending towards the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having a rounded cylindrical surface whose outer side is concave, the flat member to which said lower plate is attached having a recess to receive said spring clip and permit the fiat ends of the plate to lie against its surface, a spring clip latch portion formed out of said second spring clip by cutting the cylindrical surface part way transversely and continuing said cuts around a tongue extending from said latch clip portion to free said latch clip and tongue from the plate, the portions of the first spring clip opposite the remaining portions of the second spring clip fitting into said remaining portions so that both hold the plates together in fastened position, the portion of the first spring clip opposite said latch portion being arranged to fit within and be grasped by same, said tongue out out from said lower plate extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said spring clip latch portion for spreading same, the slot from which said tongue is cut and a recess in the fiat member thereunder providing space for the depressing of said tongue, said upper plate and its flat member having openings giving access to the tongue for depressing same, and said latch portion having its cylindrical surface bent to grasp and hold theopposing portion of the first spring clip more tightly than the holding of the remaining portions of the spring clips to each other.

'7. Matching latch plates for fastening together overlying flat members, each plate having two fiat end portions each attachable to the surface of one of the said fiat members with their inner surfaces against said surface which flat end portions arejoined by a spring clip which has a rounded cylindrical surface, the spring clip on the first plate extending away from the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having its cylindrical surface joined to each fiat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and rounded as it rises from the plate to present a convex surface towards the second plate, the spring clip on the second plate extending towards the fiat member to which said end portions are attachable and likewise having .its cylindrical surface joined to each flat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and shaped to fit over and around said first spring clip so that said spring clips hold resiliently to each other in fastened position, a latch clip portion formed out of the second spring clip by cutting the cylindrical surface part way transversely and continuing said cuts around a tongue extending "from said latch clip portion to free said latch clip and tongue from the plate, said tongue cutout from said second plate extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said latch clip portion for spreading same and bent to an acute dihedral angle at the point where the tongue joins said surface, the portion of the first spring clip opposite said latch clip portion, being arranged to fit within and be grasped by same.

8. Matching latch plates for fastening together overlying fiat members, each plate having two fiat end portions each attachable to the surface of one of the said fiat members with their inner surfaces against said surface'which flat end portions are joined by a spring clip which has a rounded cylindrical surface, the spring clip on the first plate extending away from the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having its cylindrical surface joined to each flat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and rounded as it rises from the plate to present a convex surface towards the second plate, the spring clip on the second plate extending towards the fiat member to which said end portions are attachable and likewise having its cylindrical surface joined to each flat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and shaped to fit over and around said first spring clip so that said spring clips hold resiliently to each other in fastened position, a latch .clip portion formed out of the second spring clip by-cutting the cylindrical surface part way transversely'and continuing said cuts around a tongueextending from said latch clip portion to freesaid latch clip and tongue from the plate, said tongue out out from said second plate extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface ofsaid latch clip portion for spreading same and bent to an acute dihedral angle at the point where the tongue joins said surface, and a reinforcing brace connecting said extended tongue to an intermediate point on said surface, the portion of the first spring clip opposite said latch portion being arranged to fit within and be grasped by same.

9. Matching latch plates for-fasteningtogether two overlying fiat members, each \plate having two flat end portions each attached rtothe surface of one of the said fiat members with their inner surfaces against said surface which fiat end portions are joined by a spring clip which has a rounded cylindrical surface, the spring clip on the first plate extending away from the fiat member to which said end portions are attachable and having its cylindrical surface joined to each flat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and rounded as it rises from the plate to present a convex surface towards the second plate, the spring clip on the second plate extending towards the fiat member to which said end portions are attachable and likewise having its cylindrical surface joined to each flat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and shaped to fit over and around said first spring clip so that said spring clips hold resiliently to each other in fastened position, a latch clip portion formed out of the second spring clip by cutting the cylindrical surface part way transversely and continuing said cuts around a tongue extending from said latch clip portion to free said latch clip and tongue from the plate; said tongue out out from said second plate extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said latch clip portion for spreading same and bent to an acute dihedral angle at the point where the tongue joins said surface, and a reinforcing brace connecting said extended tongue to an intermediate point on said surface, the slot from which said tongue is cut and a recess in the flat member thereunder providing space for the depressing of the tongue, the portion of the first spring clip opposite said latch portion being arranged to fit within and be grasped by same.

10. Matching latch plates for fastening to gether overlying fiat members, each plate having two fiat end portions each attachable to the surface of one of the said flat members with their inner surfaces against said surface which fiat end portions are joined by a spring clip which has a rounded cylindrical surface, the spring clip on the first plate extending away from the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having its cylindrical surface joined to each flat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and rounded as it rises from the plate to present a convex surface towards the second plate, the spring clip on the second plate extending towards the flat member to which said end portions are attached and likewise having its cylindrical surface joined to each flat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and shaped to fit over and around said first spring clip so that said spring clips hold resiliently to each other in fastened position, a latch clip portion formed out of the second spring clip by cutting the cylindrical surface part way transversely and continuing said cuts around a tongue extending from said latch clip portion to free said latch clip and tongue from the plate, said tongue out out from said second plate extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said latch clip portion for spreading same, and an abutment portion formed out of the portion of said first spring clip opposite said latch clip portion by severing one end of the cylindrical surface of said first spring clip from the plate by a longitudinal cut and cutting said cylindrical surface part way at each end of said abutment portion thereby providing a free end of said abutment portion which is bent inwardly so that the .portionofthe cylindrical surface forming said abutment may be better grasped and held by said latch clip portion.

11. Matching latch plates for fastening together two overlying flat members, each plate having two flat end portions each attached to the surface of the flat member, which flat end portions are joined by a spring clip which has a rounded cylindrical surface, the spring clip on the upper plate extending away from the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and having its cylindrical surface joined to each flat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and rounded as it rises from the plate to present a convex surface towards the lower plate, the spring clip on the lower plate extending towards the flat member to which said end portions are attachable and likewise having its cylindrical surface joined to each fiat end portion with an acute dihedral angle and shaped to fit over and around said first spring clip so that said spring clips hold resiliently to each other in fastened position, a latch clip portion formed out of the second spring clip by cutting the cylindrical surface part way transversely and continuing said cuts around a tongue extending from said latch clip portion to free said latch clip and tongue from the plate, said tongue out out from said lower plate extending from the free end of the cylindrical surface of said latch clip portion for spreading same and bent to an acute dihedral angle at the point where the tongue joins said surface, and a reinforcing brace connecting said extended tongue to an intermediate point on said surface, the slot from which said tongue is cut and a recess in the flat member thereunder providing space for depressing of the tongue, said upper plate and the flat member to which it is attached having openings giving access to said tongue, the portion of the first spring clip opposite said latch portion being arranged to fit within and be grasped by same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 863,920 Helmer et al Aug. 20, 1907 900,121 Pleins Oct. 6, 1908 1,719,343 Strayer July 2, 1929 1,909,654 Brown et a1. May 16, 1933 2,211,959 Visser Nov. 19, 1940 

